Which Bike Rack for your 2" Reciever

[Rustysocket]

In moving from a tow-behind to a fifth-wheel one of the things I didn't think about was losing the bed space in my truck for Bicycles.

I ordered a Bike Rack to fit the 2" reciever on the back of the fifth wheel but the instructions explicitly say not to use it on the back of a trailer. I'm guessing because of the exaggerated motion due to the length.

I need a bike rack that is RV rated that can carry a minimum of three and ideally four bikes. I want high quality that will last and most of all easy to use.

What do you guys use?

[Magnolia Tom]

Check out swagman. Got mine from etrailer sells swagman for RV use. That's where I got mine




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[DocBrown]

X2 on the Swagman. While I don't use it on the back of my trailer, I use it on the truck when not towing. Mine is got to be well over 10 years old. It's very durable, and Swagman is one of the few on the market that can be used on the back of a trailer. Amazon has the best prices for the Swagman racks. And if you have Prime...

[tslarson]

X3 on the swagman. Etrailer has some good pricing too.
I have two-two bike RV Swagmans mounted on a extended square tube so I can carry 4 bikes on the back of my trailer, frame mounted receiver hitch of course.

[Rustysocket]

I see that swagman makes several models. The one posted above looks quite stout and probably overkill for my need (as well as costs more than the bikes)

Anybody have any experience with this model:

https://www.amazon.com/Swagman-Bike-...ywords=swagman

Or should I just bite the bullet and go with this:

https://www.amazon.com/Swagman-Cross...ywords=swagman

[need-a-vacation]

I would suggest going to Swagman's website and figuring out which ones are rated for the rear of a rv. Then shop from there. I am not real familiar with Swagman, but have read very good things about them!

We have a Quantum (discontinued, made by Sportcraft I think it was) tray style 4 bike rack. Requires the front wheel to be removed, but I have had the rack for ~20yrs. I also use one of the hitch anti rattle kits. It is a u bolt with a steel plate that keeps the rack from bouncing up and down. Downside to the anti rattle kit is you need a 3/4" wrench to install and remove it. Otherwise works great!

Good luck shopping!!!

[Jagiven]

A freind has the XTC-4 and loves it. He says he has had no issues with it. I bought the same one maybe 3 years ago, based on his experience. I noticed last week the hole the pin goes in to lock the unit in position is starting to elongate. I'm fairly sure I will rebuilt it this winter, and make it a bit beefier.

The XTC-4 is not RV rated, but the do make some that are.

[tslarson]

I think the most important thing is to get one that supports the bikes from the bottom, holding the wheels. Here is mine, but only holds two bikes unless modified like I did.
Swagman Platform-Style 2 Bike Rack for 2" Hitches or RV Bumpers Swagman RV and Motorhome Bike Racks S64663

The 4 bike one you linked to would probably work as it is a bottom holding rack.

[robkelly]

I just bought the Swagman Dimension and it's been great. I called eTrailer with a question about the XTC-2, but they guided me to the Dimension as they claim it's a little better quality. Bikes are rock solid on it.

[SouthCo]

Originally Posted by tslarson

I think the most important thing is to get one that supports the bikes from the bottom, holding the wheels.

I have started looking for a bike rack as well. Found a swagman that the bikes' top tubes sits in. What issue does it cause that you recommend one that supports the wheels? Just trying to get informed. Thanks.

[Rustysocket]

Originally Posted by robkelly

I just bought the Swagman Dimension and it's been great. I called eTrailer with a question about the XTC-2, but they guided me to the Dimension as they claim it's a little better quality. Bikes are rock solid on it.

I can't seem to find that model. Do you have a link.

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[tslarson]

Originally Posted by SouthCo

I have started looking for a bike rack as well. Found a swagman that the bikes' top tubes sits in. What issue does it cause that you recommend one that supports the wheels? Just trying to get informed. Thanks.

In my opinion, the ones that hold the bikes by the top tube bounce and flex much more on the back of a trailer, this causes stress and fatigue on the hitch, rack, and bikes. Also the bottom part of the bikes are left to hang from the rack, so you have to do extra work to somehow strap the bikes to the trailer. Much less loading hassle with the wheel support style also.

[robkelly]

Originally Posted by Rustysocket

I can't seem to find that model. Do you have a link.

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Apologies, I got the name wrong - it's the Dispatch

https://www.etrailer.com/Hitch-Bike-...an/S64684.html

[DocBrown]

Originally Posted by tslarson

Swagman Platform-Style 2 Bike Rack for 2" Hitches or RV Bumpers Swagman RV and Motorhome Bike Racks S64663

This is the one we have. BTW, it's $175 on Amazon.

Originally Posted by tslarson

In my opinion, the ones that hold the bikes by the top tube bounce and flex much more on the back of a trailer, this causes stress and fatigue on the hitch, rack, and bikes. Also the bottom part of the bikes are left to hang from the rack, so you have to do extra work to somehow strap the bikes to the trailer. Much less loading hassle with the wheel support style also.

This is the reason I bought the Swagman. Before we bought it, I looked at a lot of racks, paying attention to the ones I saw people using. I just didn't like the way most racks hold the bikes. The Swagman's top bars ratchet and hold the bikes firmly in place, no movement, no bouncing.

[Flapper]

Just to be explicit - There are VERY few bike racks where RV use is allowed! Swagman is one brand, but as of a little over a year ago, only TWO of their specific models allowed RV use. You usually have to download the manuals of each make and model, and read the fine print to find out.

Yes, the longer distance from rear wheels to the bikes makes for hugely exaggerated loads on everything when bouncing up and down. Hence much more chance for failure.

On my fifth, the Swagman also required a 12" receiver extension, so that the bikes did not hit the rear window. And then you need some serious "anti-rattle" devices to keep the slight play in the receiver and receiver extension from bouncing and pounding.

You may want to explore adding a receiver assembly to your pin box, and put the bike rack there so they are carried in front of the fifth, over the hitch. Much less bounce. But then, there is the need to have an assembly built for your fifth, as well as having to lift the bikes moderately high up to get into the rack. As well as lots of bugs on your bikes! And of course, all of that counts as directly additional pin weight, rather than the bikes/rack actually reducing pin weight by being on the rear.

[SouthCo]

Flapper is right. I'm looking at Swagmans site now and what they offer for rv use.

RV Racks - Swagman

Swagman doesn't offer a 3 or 4 bike rack that supports under the bikes' tires. They only offer 3 or 4 bike racks that hold the bikes' top tubes.

I need a 3-4 bike rack...

[Clayton4971]

I have one I have had for a few years now took two bikes to south Texas and back to Michigan with no problems . I did add a extension to keep the bikes away from the rear window . Just make sure you have a strong enough receiver in the fifth wheel forgot to say it is a swagman


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[Rustysocket]

Looks like swagman gets all the business....

We're not doing crazy bumpy roads or long distances. Just need something easy to use to get the bikes to the campgrounds and back.

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[Larry G.]

We use to mount our 2 bikes on the ladder with a Swagman....until the ladder bowed because of all the bounce that goes on on the rear of any rig.

Solved the problem by installing a 2' receiver to the front of our TV and getting a 2 bike Swagman that works with the setup....no worries now.

[Rustysocket]

I had a ladder mount on my Northwood. I won't ever do that again.

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